By MICHAEL GINGOLD
The ’80s classic is getting the hi-def disc restoration/showcase it has long deserved.
Second Sight Films will release Robert Harmon’s 1986 psychochiller THE HITCHER on a limited-edition region-free 4K UHD/Blu-ray boxed set September 30, along with standard 4K UHD and Blu-ray editions. Rutger Hauer gives one of horror’s all-time great performances as John Ryder, a mysterious murderer who terrorizes C. Thomas Howell’s Jim Halsey across the American Southwest. The discs will feature a new 4K restoration from the original camera negative approved by director Harmon, with the UHD presented in HDR with Dolby Vision, and featuring Dolby Atmos and original stereo audio mixes. The copious extras are:
- New audio commentary by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
- Audio commentary by Robert Harmon and writer Eric Red
- Scene-specific audio commentary by Robert Harmon, Eric Red, executive producer Edward S. Feldman, composer Mark Isham, director of photography John Seale and actors Rutger Hauer and C.
- Thomas Howell
- The Projection Booth Podcast: featuring Robert Harmon and Rutger Hauer
- Bullseye: A new interview with Robert Harmon
- Penning the Ripper: A new interview with Eric Red
- Doomed to Live: A new interview with C. Thomas Howell
- The Man from Oz: A new interview with John Seale
- A Very Formative Score: A new interview with Mark Isham
- Duel Runner: Leigh Singer on the evolution of THE HITCHER and Rutger Hauer
- CHINA LAKE: A short film by Robert Harmon newly restored
- The Calling Card: Robert Harmon on CHINA LAKE
- Telephone: A short film by Eric Red
- THE HITCHER How do these movies get made?
- Trailers
The limited edition also comes with:
- Rigid slipcase with new artwork by Adam Stothard
- 200-page hardback book with exclusive Robert Harmon interview by Lou Thomas, exclusive Eric Red interview by Matt Thrift, and new essays by Heather Drain, David Kittredge, Craig Ian Mann, Rebecca McCallum, Meagan Navarro and Jon Towlson
- Eric Red’s original screenplay book
- Six collectors’ art cards
You can pre-order the limited-edition set here, the Standard 4K UHD here and the Standard Blu-ray here.
